Towel washer and dispenser



Sept. 15, 1942.

v. J LA PAGE 2 ,295,955

TOWEL WASHER AND DISPENSER Filed March 9, 1942 I INVE NTOR 28heets-Sheet1 P .15., 1942- v; LA PAGE 2,295,955

TOWEL WASHER AND DISPENSER Filed March 9, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 4 f/aZ//'a .2? i

Patented Sept. 15-194 NT: orrlcs I TOWEL WASHER AND DISPENSER Victor 1.La Page, Snyder, N. Y., assignor to International Musical Instrument00., 'Buihlo,

Application March 9, 1942,- Serial No. 433,864

(Cl. ear-1s) 10 Claims.

This invention relates to towel dispensing cablasts for use in publicwash rooms or the like, and more particularly to an improved form ofcabinet containing an endless towel and means for automatically washingand ironing the latter v as required toenable freshly cleaned towelportions to be continuously dispensed.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a towel cleaning anddispensing cabinet of the character described which embodies automaticactuating mechanisms whereby the processes of washing and ironingsuccessive portions of the towel are accomplished in improved manner.Another object of the invention is to provide a towel dispensing cabinetof the character described embodying novel features whereby it isarranged that the soiled towel portions will be periodically sterilizedand washed and ironed in improved manner and made available for reuse indirect-proportion tothe user's demands upon the apparatus. Anotherobject of the invention is to provide an apparatus of the characterdescribed which is adapted to normally function automatically andwithout attention by any attendant, and which is fool-proof in itsoperation and relatively simple and rugged in its design and structuralformation; Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus01' the character described wherein the heat energy generated inconjunction with the ironing operations thereof is utilized'to furtherassist in aerating and drying the freshly washed and ironed portions ofthe towel prior to their being dispensed for reuse. Other objects andadvantages of theinventlon will appear from the specificationhereinafter. Y

Inthe drawings: Fig. 1 is a perspective of a towel dispensing apparatusof the invention as'it might appear when mounted upon a room wall orother suitable support;

. J Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse section through the cabinet andmechanism contained therein;

Pig. 3 is a front elevation thereof with the cabinet front wallstructure cut away;'and

Fig. 4 is a wiring diagram of the electrical control circuits of themechanism thereof.

Thedrawings illustrate the invention in con junction with a cabinet IIwhich is of box-like form such as is suitable'to be mounted against awall l2 (Fig. 1) of a public wash room or the of similar material.-'I'hus, the casing III is adapted to enclose the working members of theapparatus and to provide a pleasing exterior appearance. l

' The casing III is provided at vertically spaced positions in its frontwall portion with a towel feedout slot 2| and a towel return slot 22between which is threaded a looped portion of an endless towel 24 so asto be presented to the users thereof for drying their faces and hands.The feedout slot 20 is disposed intermediately of the upper and lowerend portions of the casing land at a position below the level of apartition plate 26 extending horizontally and transversely of the casinginterior so as to provide within the upper end portion of the casing anopen'chamber 21 adapted to contain an accumulation of freshly washed andironed portions of the towel 24 in such manner asto be ready to bedispensed therefrom for the purposes of the users.

The bottom plate 28 is slotted at 28 to permit the towel to be drawntherethrough so as to be discharged from the chamber 21, and a roller291s mounted upon'the cabinet adjacent the slot 28 for guiding the toweltherethrough and thence forwardly between a pair of pressure rollersill-4| which are mounted upon the casing adjacent the feedout slot 20'of the front wall thereof. v

A similar pair of rollers 32-33 are mounted within the cabinet adjacentthe towel return slot 22 so as to be adapted to engage the toweltherebetween as it returns to the interior of the cabinet, and thefeedout rolls ill-II are operatively ,connected to the towel-returnrolls 32-33 by means of a suitable sprocket-chain device or other gearedarrangement, as indicated at 34. Thus, it will be understood thatwhenever a user pulls upon the upper portion of the towel which ispresented for useexteriorly of the cabinet, a freshly cleaned towelportion will be thereby withdrawn from the storage compartment 21,

and the return rollers 32-43 will simultaneously operate to return anamount ofsoiledtowel to the interior of the casing which is lineallyequal to the amount of towel pulled through the rollers Ill-3|.Consequently, the same amount of towel will at all times be presentedexteriorly of the v cabinet.

A partition plate 36 arranged I in parallel spaced relation with respectto the rear face of l the cabinet and having a forwardly extendingflange portion 31 is arranged within the lower portion of the cabinet toprovide a soiled towel storage compartment 38 into which the returnrollers 3233 are adapted to dispose the soiled towel portions whenoperating as explained hereinabove. The bottom plate portion 31 isslotted at 33 and a free roller 39 is arranged adjacent thereto fortraining the towel out of the compartment 38 and against successiveguide rolls 404I42 so that as the soiled toweling is drawn out of thecompartment 38 it passes downwardly therefrom into one end of a washtank 44 and thence therethrough toward the opposite end thereof andthence upwardly through a pair of opposed pressure-applying rolls 45-46.The tank 44 is adapted to contain a washing solution comprising waterand soap and disinfectant, or the like; and the rolls 45-46 areoperatively connected by means of suitable chain or gearing drivedevices as indicated at 4849 to an electric motor 50 through means of areduction gear drive device 52 which is coupled to the motor. Thus, itwill be understood that whenever the motor 50 is operating the rolls45-46 will be driven to draw the toweling upwardly therethrough; andthus the toweling will be pulled out of the soiled towel compartment 38and caused to traverse the interior of the wash tank 44 so as to becomethoroughly saturated with the washing and disinfecting solution. 1

Preferably, a series of scrubbers will be arranged within the wash tank44 to operate upon the toweling as it passes therethrough to facilitateremoval of soilage from the toweling. As illustrated at 56, thescrubbing apparatus may comprise a series of paired sponge rubber blocksarranged in opposed relation above and below the toweling so as to pressthe latter therebetween as it moves through the wash tank. Thus, therubber blocks will scrub against the fabric of the toweling so as toprovide mechanical asmove upwardly from the wringing rolls 45-46 andover one edge of the rinse tank 60 and thence downwardly thereinto andthence across through the interior thereof and thence upwardly and outof the opposite end portion thereof. The tank 60 is adapted to contain asupply of fresh rinse water or the like, and a pair of wringerdrivingrolls 66-61 are arranged above the towel discharge end of the rinse tankfor pulling the toweling through the rinse tank after elevating it fromthe level of the wringer'rolls 45-46. The wringer-driving rolls 66-61are also coupled to the motor drive gear mechanism 49; and thus it willbe understood that whenever the motor 50 is operating the rollers 66-61will simultaneously pull the toweling through the rinse tank and wringit substantially dry as it emerges therefrom, while the rolls 45-46 arepulling a following portion of the toweling through the wash tank andwringing it substantially dry as it emerges therefrom.- A series ofscrubbing blocks 68, similar to the scrubbing blocks 56 are preferablyarranged within the rinse tank to scrub the toweling as it travelsthrough the rinse water for thorough dislodgement of soilage from thetoweling.

It is arranged that as the toweling emerges from the rinse wringer rolls6661 it will train around a drum ,which is rotatably mounted upon thecasing to extend transversely of the interior thereof. The drum 10 is povided with an electrical grid heat generating element v(not shown) ofany suitable form such as is well known in the electrical art; and astationary shoe 12 of arcuate form is disposed to cooperate with thedrum 10 so as to closely engage the toweling .therebetween as it travelsaround the surface of the roller 10. The shoe 12 will preferably be alsoprovided with a suitable heat generating element; and thus it will beunderstood that as the toweling moves around the drum 10 it is engagedand pressed between the heated drum and the heated shoe whereby itbecomes thoroughly dried and ironed. Guide rollers 14-16-1113 then guidethe ironed toweling to travel upwardly adjacent the rear face of thecabinet and behind a false back wall plate so as tobe delivered into theinterior of the clean towel storage chamber 21. For this purpose therolls 11-18 are arranged in opposed relation so as to pressure-engagethe toweling therebetween and are driven by the motor 50 through meansof a chain or gear mechanism 82. The upper end of the partition wall 80is smoothly curved over as at 84 to provide for smooth delivery of theclean towel portion into the storage chamber 21.

Thus, it will be understood that the apparatus provides an arrangementwhereby a supply of freshly washed and ironed toweling is adapted to bestored in the upper chamber 21 from which it may be manually withdrawnby simply pulling upon the portion of the toweling projecting from thedispensing cabinet. As fresh toweling is withdrawn from the cabinet, anequivalent amount of soiled toweling is returned by the rollers 32-33 tothe soiled towel compartment 33; and upon operation of the motor 50 thesoiled toweling stored within the chamber 38 will be threaded firstthrough the wash tank 44 and the scrubbers therein, and then through therinse tank 60 and the scrubbers therein, and then through the ironer1012, and then delivered into the top end portion of the clean towelstorage chamber 21 so as to be ready to be withdrawn again from thedispenser as required by the,

users.

It will be understood that the mode of withdrawal of clean toweling byusers from the chamber 21 may be arranged to be either unrestricted orcontrolled, as may be preferred. For example, an automatically operatingmeasuring device may be employed in conjunction with the rolls 30-3l soas to arbitrarily limit the length of toweling which may be pulled outof the container in one pulling operation. Or, if desired somecoin-operated control mechanism may be-employed in conjunction with therolls 30-3! to provide a revenue in connection with the operation of theapparatus. In any case, devices forcontrolling the operation ofdispensing the toweling in the above referred to manners are well knownin the art, and may be employed in conjunction with the apparatus of theinvention if desired.

It is preferred to provide the apparatus of the invention so that thetowel washing and ironing,

operations thereof will automatically take place as required and indirect ratio to the use of the toweling. Therefore, the roller 30 whichrotates in direct proportion to the extent of towel use is gearedthrough a worm gear mechanism as indicated in Fig. 4 to a shaft 9|carrying a radially extending control finger 92. The gear mechanismcoupling the roller 30 to the control finger shaft 9| is so providedthat the control finger 92 will execute a single revolution about theaxis of th'e'shaft whenever a predeter-,

mined quantity of toweling has passed through the rolls 30-"; and thecontrol mechanism is so arranged that whenever the compartment 21becomes substantially empty'oi clean toweling the control finger 02 willhavebeen rotated to such position that it bears against the actuatingmember 03 of an electric switch 94 so as, to close an electrical circuitincluding power inlet conductors 0000 and power supply conductors 30-90.

The motor 00 is electrically coupled to the conductors 06-30, and theheating elements of the ironer devices 'I0-'I2 may be connected inparallel thereto as indicated at 0'I'(Fig. 4); or, the ironer elementsmay be connected to the control switch so as to be energized prior toenergization of the motor 50. In any case it will be understood thatwhen the control flnger 02 actuates the switch 94 to circuit-closedposition the heating elements of the ironing device will be energizedand the motor 50 will then start to drive the soiled towel portionsthrough the washing and rinsing and ironing mechanisms for final storagethereof in the clean towel chamber 21,

. as explained hereinabove. A counter device 30 is provided inconnection with the switch 04 to control reopening thereof subsequent toclosing of the switch by the control finger 92. The counter device maybe of any suitable type and is operably coupled to a roller havingtraction relation with the soiled towel portion moving through thewashing-rinsing-ironing mechanisms so that subsequent to passage of apredetermined lineal amount of toweling through the washing apparatusthe switch 94 will be reopened to stop the washing and ironing process.Thus, the counter device 98 will be coupled by means of a chain andsprocket arrangement, as indicated at 99, to a roller geared tothe towelmechanism, as for example the roll-40; and the counter will be soprovided that it will permit a length of toweling suflicient to equalthe amount nor-.- mally stored within the soiled towel chamber 38 topass through the washing apparatus before reopening the switch 94whereby the soiled towel chamber will be emptied during eachwashingironing operation and the fresh towel chamber 21 will besimultaneously refilled,

The invention embodies arrangements for periodically draining the washand rinse tanks of soiled solutions and refilling them with freshsolutions as may be required to provide optimum cleaning action. Forexample as shown in Figs.

2 and 3, a fresh water inlet conduit I00 is provided with a controlvalveI02 and dispensing outlets I04-'-I06 which are arranged to dischargefresh water from the conduit I00 into the wash and rinse tanks,respectively, whenever the valve I02 is opened. A soap container I00 anda disinfectant container I I-0 are provided to discharge into a commonoutlet conduit 2 leading into the wash tank 44; and valves 4-4 It arearranged 'in conjunction with the soap and disinfectant containers,respectively, for controlling passage of their contents through theconduit II2 toward the wash tank. The cabinet I0 is provided with apartition IIO (Fig. 3) separating the water and soap and. disinfectantdispensing apparatus from the towel containing portions thereof; and asimilar partition H9 at the opposite side of thelcabinet is provided toseparate the chain-sprocket drive mechanisms of the apparatus from thetowel containing portions thereof. Thus, the towel accommodatingportions of the cabinet are segregated from what might be termed theaccessory mechanisms thereof for insuring against soiling contact of thetoweling with the accessory or working mechanisms of the apparatus.

Soiled solution outlet conduits I-I22 leadfrom the rinse and wash tanks,respectively,

through a common valve I24 and a discharge conduit I25 to some suitablepoint of discharge such as a sewer line of the adjacent building. Thewashing solution supply valves I02-II4-- H0 and the soiled solutionoutlet valve I24 are arranged to be automatically actuated as may berequired to maintain the washing and rinsing solutions in suitablecondition at all times. Control of the valve devices may be provided invarious manners, and by way of example the valve control system isillustrated in Fig. 4 as being directly coupled to the control systemfor the motor 50 and the ironer heating elements. To this end the soiledsolution dump valve I24 is arranged to be actuated by a solenoidmechanism indicated at I; and the valve I24 is nor.- mally biased toopen position. Thus, whenever the solenoid I30 is energized the valvewill be actuated to closed position, and conductors I32-- I32 arearranged to connect the solenoid I30 to the power outlet conductors 9696so that whenever the switch 94 is actuated to closed position the dumpvalve I24 will be simultaneously closed 'and maintained in closedcondition as long as circuit the solenoids I34-I 36-I 38 willsimultaneously act to open the valves I02-I'I6-II4 to permit fresh waterto flow into the wash and rinse tanks and fresh soap and disinfectantmaterials to flow into the wash tank. It will of course be understoodthat the valve mechanisms controlling passage of the various ingredientsor the washing solution will be arranged and regulated so that theingredients will flow in the desired relative proportions to provide anyprescribed composition of washing solution. A float I40 carrying a stemI42 is supported by bearings I43 and is so disposed that the float I 40rests freely upon the fluid within the wash tank 44. A knife switch I45connected in the line of one of the conductors I39isv arranged to bemoved between closed and opened positions upon rising of the float I40to an elevation corresponding to the desired level of liquid within thewash tank 44 during washing operations;

Thus, it will be understood that whenever the control switch 84 isactuated to commence a washing-ironing cycle of operation, the. dumpvalve I24i will be instantaneously closed and the feed-in-valvesI02--IIG-I I4 w ll be s multaneously opened whereby fresh water willflow into the rinse tank and fresh water and soapand disinfectant willflow into the wash tank. When the level of solution in the wash tank'reaches the prescribed elevation the float I40 will open the knifeswitch I45 to break the circuit energizing the solenoids I34,I36--I-38,whereupon the feed valves I02'II6-I:I4 will besnapped Thus, whenever the1 control switch 94 is actuated to energize the -mechanism operatingrespect to specific details of the apparatus.

shut. The washing and ironing operations will then continue as explainedhereinabove, and upon termination thereof as provided for by operationof the counter mechanism 98, the switch 94 will be opened to deenergizethe entire sys-.

tem whereupon the dump valve PM will be opened and the wash and rinsetanks drained of soiled solutions. It will of course be understood thatthe process of changing the solutions within the rinse and wash tanksmay be controlled in any other modified manner, and that thesolutionchanges may be arranged to occur at longer periods, if preferred.

Various changes may of course be made with For example, if preferred, inlieu of the sponge rubber scrubbing blocks 56B8 of the wash and rinsemechanisms, corresponding series of scrubbing roller brushes may beemployed. Also, a towel folding mechanism may be employed if preferred,within the clean towel storage chamber 21 whereby the freshly cleanedtoweling may be regularly folded within the clean towelchamberpreliminary to being dispensed therefrom for the purposes of theusers. For this purpose any suitable standard form of fabric foldingmechanism may be employed.

A particular feature of the invention is illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3wherein air circulating apertures are illustrated as being provided inthe .rear wall plate of the cabinet at I50, and

other air holes are provided in the plates 80-26- as illustrated atISL-J54. Air outlet openings are provided in the top wall of the casingIII as ind cated at I56; and thus it will be understood that the heatgenerated by operation of the motor 50 and the ironer elements |-'I2will cause the atmosphere adjacent thereto to become heated, and that athermo-syphon air circulating system will thereby be established wherebyfresh air will be caused to constantly flow into the casing through theapertures I50: and thence to become heated before passing through theclean towel storage chamber 21 and out of the openings at the topthereof. Naturally, this constant stream of heated fresh air will resultin complete aerating and drying of the freshly washed toweling; andsouring"- of the washed toweling will be thereby avoided. Consequently,when the toweling is dispensed for the purpose of the users it will bein optimum condition.

Although only one form of the invention has b en shown and described indetail, it will be a parent to those skilled in the art that theinvention is not so limited but that various changes may be made thereinwithout departing from the sp rit of the invention or the scope of the apended claims.

I claim:

1. A towel washing and ironing and dispensing apparatus comprising acabinet, an endless towel dispos d substantially within said cabinet andhaving a looped portion extending therefrom for the purposes of theuser, said cabinet being inter orly partitioned to provide separatechamber portions. one of said chamber portions being ada ted toaccommodate an accumulation of freshlv washed and ironed towelingtherein prior to being withdrawn for purposes of the user, another ofsaid chambers being adapted to conta n an accumulation of soiledtoweling therein subs quent to being used, means engaging the towelingas it is withdrawn from said clean towel chamber and operably coupled tomeans engaging the soiled portion of said toweling at its point ofreturn into the cabinet for driving soiled toweling into said soiledtowel chamberat equal tank means and said ironing means for deliveryinto said clean toweling chamber whenever the latter becomessubstantially-empty, and means for periodically and automaticallychanging the washing and rinsing solutions of said wash tank means andsaid rinse tank means without personal attention.

2. A' towel washing and ironing and dispensing apparatus comprising acabinet, an endless towel disposed substantially within said cabinet andhaving a looped portion extending exteriorly therefrom for the purposesof the user, wash tank means disposed within said cabinet, rinse tankmeans arranged adjacent said wash tank means, towel ironing meansdisposed adjacent said rinse tank means, means for automatically pullingthe accumulated soiled toweling so as to pass successively through saidwash tank means and said rinse tank means and said ironing means fordispensing delivery, and means for periodically and automaticallychanging the washing and rinsing solutions of said wash tank means andsaid rinse tank ,means without personal attention.

3. A towel washing and dispensing apparatus comprising a cabinet, atowel having a portion thereof extending from said cabinet for thepurposes of the user, said cabinet being provided with separate chamberportions, one of said chamber portions being adapted to accommodate anaccumulation of freshly washed and ironed toweling therein prior tobeing withdrawn for purposes of the user, another of said chambers beingadapted to contain an accumulation of soiled toweling therein subsequentto being used.

wash tank means disposed within said cabinet adjacent said soiled towelchamber, rinse tank means arranged adjacent said wash tank means.

fresh water and soap and disinfectant supply means adapted to feed saidwash and rinse tank means, means for automatically drawing theaccumulated soiled toweling from said soiled towel chamber so as to passsuccessively through said wash tank means and said rinse tank fordelivery into said clean toweling chamber whenever the latter becomessubstantially empty, and means for periodically and automaticallyactuating said supply means for changing the washing and rinsingsolutions of said wash tank means rinsing solutions of said wash tankmeans and said rinse tank means in accord with the'extent of use ofsaid'toweling 5. A towel washing and ironing and dispensing apparatuscomprising a cabinet, an endless towel disposed substantially withinsaid cabinet and arranged to be pulled therefrom for use and returnedthereto and thus having a looped portion extending exteriqrly therefromfor the purposes of the user, a wash tank disposed within said cabinet,a rinse tank arranged adjacent said wash tank,towel ironing meansdisposed adjacent said rinse tank, means for automatically pulling thesoiled portion of said toweling so as to pass it successively throughsaid wash tank and said rinse tank and said ironing means preliminary todispensing delivery thereof and intermittently operable upon pulling ofpredetere mined lengths of toweling from said cabinet, and meansforperiodically and automatically changing the washing and rinsingsolutions of said wash tank and said rinse tank upon passage ofpredetermined length of toweling therethrough.

6. A towel washing and ironing and dispensing apparatus comprising acabinet, an endless towel disposed substantially within said cabinet andhaving a looped portion extending therefrom for the purposes of theuser, said cabinet being interiorly partitioned to provide separatechamber portions, one of said chamber portions being adapted toaccommodate an accumulation of freshly washed and ironed towelingtherein prior to being withdrawn for purposes of the user, another ofsaid chambers being adapted to contain an accumulation of soiledtoweling therein subsequent to being used, traction roller meansengaging the toweling as it is withdrawn from said clean towel chamberand operably coupled to traction roller means engaging the soiledportion of said toweling at its point of return into the cabinet fordriving soiled toweling into said soiled towel chamber at equal rate toand concurrently with withdrawal of cleantoweling from said clean towelchamber, wash tank means disposed within said cabinet adjacent saidsoiled towel chamber, rinse tank means arranged adjacent said wash tankmeans, towel ironing means disposed adjacent said rinse tank means,fresh wash and rinse solution supply means adaptedtofeed said wash andrinse tank means, motor means operably associated with said toweling forautomatically drawing the accumulated soiled toweling from said soiledtowel chamber so as to pass it successively through said wash tank meansand said rinse tank means and said ironing means for delivery into saidclean tow'eling chamber whenever the latter becomes substantially empty,as the result of actuation of motor control means by said tractionroller means, means for changing the washing and through, heat supplymeans associated with said towel ironing means and arranged to beenergized by said traction roller means. subsequent to a predeterminedamount of rotation thereof, and float means associated with saidwash-rinse tank means for operation upon attainment of a predeterminedsolution level therein to discontinue feeding of fresh wash and rinsesolutions there- '7. Atowel washing and ironing and dispensing apparatuscomprising a cabinet, an endless towel disposed substantiallywithin'said cabinet and having a looped portion extending therefrom forthe purposes of the user, said cabinet being interiorly partitioned toprovide separate chamber portions, one of said chamber portions beingadapted to accommodate an accumulation of freshly washed and ironedtoweling therein prior tobeing withdrawnfor purposes of the user,

another of said chambers being adapted to contain an accumulation ofsoiled toweling therein subsequent to being used, tractionroller meansengaging the toweling as it is withdrawn from said clean towel chamberand operably coupled disposed within said cabinet adjacent said soiledtowel chamber, rinse tank means arranged adjacent said wash tank means,towel ironing means disposed adjacent said rinse tank means, fresh washand rinse solution supply means adapted to feed said wash and rinse tankmeans,

ation of motor control means bylsaid traction roller means, means forchanging the washing and rinsing solutions of said wash tank means andsaid rinse tank means respectively subsequent to passage of apredetermined length of toweling therethrough, heat supply meansassociated with said towel ironing means and arranged to be energized bysaid traction roller means subsequent to a predetermined amount ofrotation thereof, and float means associated with said wash-rinse tankmeans for operation upon attainment of a predetermined solution leveltherein to discontinue feeding of fresh wash and rinse solutionsthereinto, said cabinet: being formed with air circulating aperturesbelow the level of said motor and ironing meansand in the top of saidclean towel chamber for thermosyphon circulation offresh heated airthrough said clean towel chamber.

8. A towel washing and ironing and dispensing apparatus comprising acabinet, an endless towel connected into said cabinet and having alooped portion extending therefrom for the purposes of the user, saidcabinet being interiorly partitioned to provide separate chamberportions, one of said chamber portions being adapted to accommodate anaccumulation of freshly washed and ironed toweling therein prior tobeing withdrawn for purposes of the user, another of said chambers beingadapted to contain an accumulation of soiled toweling therein subsequentto being used, traction roller means engaging the toweling as it iswithdrawn from said clean towel chamber and operably coupled to tractionroller means engaging the soiled portion 'of said toweling at its pointof return into the cabinet for driving soiled toweling into said soiledtowel chamber at equal rate to and concurrently with withdrawal of cleantoweling from said clean towel chamber,

wash tank means disposed within said cabinet adjacent said soiled towelchamber, rinse tank means arranged adjacent said wash tank means, towelironing means disposed adjacent said rinse tank means, fresh wash andrinse solution supply means adapted to feed said wash and rinse tankmeans. electric motor means operably associated with a traction rollerengaging said toweling for automatically drawing the accumulated soiledtoweling from said soiled towel chamber so as to pass it successivelythrough said wash tank means and said rinse tank means and said ironingmeans for delivery into said clean toweling chamber whenever the latterbecomes substantially empty, electrically controlled means for changingthe washing and rinsing solutions of said wash tank means and said rinsemeans respectively subsequent to passage of a predetermined length oftoweling therethrough, electrical energy type heat supply meansassociated with said towel ironing means and arranged to be energized bysaid traction roller means subsequent to a predetermined amount ofrotation thereof, and float means associated with said wash-rinse tankmeans for operation upon attainment of a predetermined solution leveltherein to deenergize the electric control means governing feeding offresh wash and rinse solutions thereinto.

9. A towel washing'and ironing and dispensing apparatus comprising acabinet, an endless towel disposed substantially within said cabinet andhaving a looped portion extending therefrom for the purposes of theuser, said cabinet being interiorly partitioned to provide separatechamber portions, one of said chamber portions being adapted toaccommodate an accumulation of freshly washed and ironed towelingtherein prior to being withdrawn for purposes of the user, another ofsaid chambers being adapted to contain an accumulation of soiledtoweling therein subsequent to being used, traction roller meansengaging'the toweling as it is withdrawn from said clean towel chamberand operably coupled to traction roller means engaging the soiledportion of said toweling at its point of return into the cabinet fordriving soiled toweling into said soiled towel chamber at equal rate toand concurrently with withdrawal of clean toweling from said clean towelchamber, wash tank means disposed within said cabinet adjacent saidsoiled towel chamber, rinse tank means arranged adjacent said wash tankmeans, towel ironing means disposed adjacent said rinse tank means,fresh wash and rinse solution supply means adapted to feed said wash andrinse tank means, motor means operably associated with said toweling forautomatically drawing the accumulated soiled toweling from said soiledtowel chamber so as to pass it successively through said wash tank meansand said rinse tank means and said ironing means for delivery into saidclean toweling chamber whenever the latter becomes substantially emptyas the result of actuation of motor control means by said tractionroller means, means for changing the washing and rinsing solutions ofsaid wash tank means and said rinse tank means respectively subsequentto 10 passage of a predetermined length of toweling therethrough, heatsupply means associated with said towel ironing means and arranged to beenergized by said traction roller means subsequent to a predeterminedamount of rotation thereof, said cabinet being formed with air cir--culating apertures below the level of said motor and ironing means andin the top of said clean towel chamber for thermo-syphon circulation offresh heated air through said clean towel chamber.

10. A towel washing and ironing and dispensing apparatus comprising acabinet, an endless towel disposed substantially within said cabinet andhaving a looped portion extending ex- 5 teriorly therefrom for thepurposes of the user,

said cabinet being interiorly partitioned to provide separate chamberportions, one of said chamber portions being adjacent the upper end ofsaid cabinet and adapted to accommodate an accumulation of freshlywashed and ironed-toweling therein prior to being withdrawn for pur-.

poses of the user, another of said chambers being adapted to contain anaccumulation of soiled towelingtherein subsequent to being used, meansengaging the toweling as it is withdrawn from said clean towel chamberand operably coupled to means engaging the soiled portion of saidtoweling at its point of return into the cabinet for driving soiledtoweling into said soiled towel in chamber at equal rate andsimultaneously to withdrawal of clean toweling from said clean towelchamber, wash tank means disposed within said cabinet adjacent saidsoiled towel chamber,

rinse tank means arranged adjacent said wash 5 tank means, towel ironingmeans disposed adjacent said rinse tank means, means for automaticallydrawing the accumulated soiled toweling from said soiled towel chamberso as to pass successively through said wash tank means and said rinsetank means and said ironing means for delivery into said clean towelingchamber whenever the latter becomes substantially empty, and means forperiodically automatically changing the washing and rinsing solutions ofsaid wash tank means and said rinse tank means without personalattention.

VICTOR J. LAPAGE.

